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When is National Author’s Day?

November 1st is National Author’s Day.

What is National Author’s Day?

Good fiction tells a true story, whether the events happened or not. That’s the special skill of an author. If it’s fiction or non-fiction, history or practical philosophy, exceptional writers tell it like it is. That’s why we celebrate American authors on National Author’s Day.

Our nation’s authors perform an important role. Their fiction shows us the world through a different set of eyes. Their non-fiction crafts a new narrative for us, often using the same facts we have but sorting them in creative ways. We read them for entertainment, for information, for escape, and they continue to create stories that captivate us.

We love these authors because they retell American life—and human life in general—in ways that explain our own experiences. So pick up your favorite American author, and enjoy a good read on National Author’s Day.

Fun facts about National Author’s Day!

  • Not until she was 39 did Toni Morrison publish her first novel. She didn’t even start writing until her mid-thirties.
  • William Faulkner dropped out of high school and then went on to win the Nobel Prize in literature at age 52.
  • Jack Kerouac, who wrote “On the Road,” never actually learned how to drive.
  • The estate of Ernest Hemingway licenses an artisanal rum collection in honor of the old man himself.
  • The U.S. Department of Commerce recognized National Author’s Day in 1949, but the idea began with Nellie Verne Burt McPherson, the president of the Bement, Illinois Women’s Club.

How to celebrate National Author’s Day:

  • Write a letter of thanks to your favorite (living) author.
  • Buy a new book. Choose your favorite author, or purchase a book from someone he or she recommends.
  • Write your own novel. November 1st also starts NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), a month-long sprint to write a 50,000-word novel. Use National Author’s Day as inspiration. Find quotes from your favorite authors to keep your confidence high. You can always edit later.

What’s the hashtag for National Author’s Day?

Share a quote from your favorite author on social media with #NationalAuthorsDay.